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Freddie Roman (born Fred Kirschenbaum; May 28, 1937 – November 26, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian, best known for his frequent appearances at "Borscht Belt" hotels.
| Freddie Roman | |
|---|---|
 Roman performing at the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse in New York, 1996 | |
| Birth name | Fred Kirschenbaum |
| Born | May 28, 1937 Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 26, 2022 (aged 85) Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy |
| Genres | Jewish humor, observational comedy |
Early life
editFreddie Roman grew up in Jamaica, New York. His father was a shoe salesman. His uncle and grandfather owned the Crystal Spring Hotel in the Catskills. There, Freddie was given a chance to emcee on summer nights at age 15. He became a teenage comic in small resorts, but later left show business to work for his father. He became the proprietor of a ladies' shoe store, but soon realized his true love was "not in shoe business, but show business".
Career
editRoman headlined at resort venues, including Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip and Harrah's Atlantic City. He continued to perform, well into his later years.
The Friars Club changed their two-term maximum bylaw so Roman could stay on as its dean. He was, ultimately, succeeded by Larry King, who was the next dean of The Friars Club.
Roman co-wrote, and starred in, the stage show Catskills on Broadway and also appeared in several films.
Personal life and death
editRoman resided in Boynton Beach, Florida.[1]
His son was Alan Kirschenbaum, a television producer, who died in 2012. Roman died in Boynton Beach, on November 26, 2022, at the age of 85.[2][3][4]
Filmography
editFilms
edit- Welcome to Kutsher's: The Last Catskills Resort (2012)
- The Last Laugh (2006)
- Bittersweet Place (2005)
- Christ in the City (2005)
- Finding North (1998)
- Sweet Lorraine (1987)[5]
Television appearances
edit- The Big Room for MTV's Ha!
- Friars Club Roasts
- Funny Already: A History of Jewish Comedy
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Now That's Funny!
- Stark Raving Mad
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
- The 46th Annual Tony Awards (presenter)
- Red Oaks (Amazon.com) - 18 episodes
Stage
edit- Catskills on Broadway (2003)
- Sunrise Lakes Phase IV (2010)
References
edit- ^ Strauss, Robert. "IN PERSON; In a Club Full of Comics, The King Is Also a Jester", The New York Times, December 11, 2005.
- ^ "Freddie Roman Dead at 85". TMZ. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (November 26, 2022). "Freddie Roman Dies: Borscht Belt Comedian Who Appeared In Film And TV Was 85". Deadline. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ Bahr, Lindsey (November 27, 2022). "Borscht Belt comedian Freddie Roman dies at 85: 'The ultimate pro'". Global News. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (1987-05-01). "FILM: 'SWEET LORRAINE'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-12.